Narrative:
Following departure from Omaha, hydraulic difficulties were experienced. The flight continued to Denver, using flight manual procedures. Upon arrival near Denver, the ejectors were extended hydraulically, but the hydraulic pressure dropped to zero when an attempt was made to extend flaps to 25 degrees. The hydraulic system selector was then placed in the no. 3 position (flap and gear downlock) and the approach was continued. After touchdown the throttles were placed in the idle reverse thrust position and power was applied. An uncontrollable deviation from the runway occurred and the aircraft crashed into a new taxiway construction. The undercarriage was torn off and the DC-8 caught fire and burned.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the asymmetric thrust which, during a hydraulic emergency, resulted from failure of the thrust reversers on engines nos. 1 and 2 when reverse thrust was selected. A contributing factor was the failure of the first officer to monitor the thrust reverse indicator lights when applying reverse thrust."
Runway excursion
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 11 July 1961 |
| Time: | 11:36 MST |
| Type: | Douglas DC-8-12 |
| Operator: | United Airlines |
| Registration: | N8040U |
| MSN: | 45307/146 |
| First flight: | 1961 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 124 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT3C-6 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 115 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 122 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Omaha-Eppley Airfield, NE (OMA/KOMA), United States of America |
| Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | UA859 |
Following departure from Omaha, hydraulic difficulties were experienced. The flight continued to Denver, using flight manual procedures. Upon arrival near Denver, the ejectors were extended hydraulically, but the hydraulic pressure dropped to zero when an attempt was made to extend flaps to 25 degrees. The hydraulic system selector was then placed in the no. 3 position (flap and gear downlock) and the approach was continued. After touchdown the throttles were placed in the idle reverse thrust position and power was applied. An uncontrollable deviation from the runway occurred and the aircraft crashed into a new taxiway construction. The undercarriage was torn off and the DC-8 caught fire and burned.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Board determines the probable cause of this accident was the asymmetric thrust which, during a hydraulic emergency, resulted from failure of the thrust reversers on engines nos. 1 and 2 when reverse thrust was selected. A contributing factor was the failure of the first officer to monitor the thrust reverse indicator lights when applying reverse thrust."
Accident investigation:
|
Classification:
Engine reverse issueRunway excursion
Photos
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
accident date: 11-07-1961
type: Douglas DC-8-12
registration: N8040U
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Omaha-Eppley Airfield, NE to Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO as the crow flies is 772 km (483 miles).
Distance from Omaha-Eppley Airfield, NE to Denver-Stapleton International Airport, CO as the crow flies is 772 km (483 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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DC-8
- 556 built
- 4th loss
- 4th fatal accident
- 3rd worst accident (at the time)
- 24th worst accident (currently)
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